Aussies urged to release star player
Israel Folau is threatening team harmony and Rugby Australia ‘‘should let him go and he can become someone else’s problem’’.
That’s the view of veteran Australian rugby writer Greg Growden in a hardhitting column for ESPN Rugby.
Folau’s anti-gay stance continues to polarise the Australian game and has drawn much wider attention, with All Blacks players and coach Steve Hansen entering the debate and backing diversity.
Growden described Folau’s comments as ‘‘hurtful, divisive and dangerous’’ and was adamant they would ‘‘alienate an important sector of our community’’.
He is also adamant Rugby Australia should have been far tougher on Folau.
Growden suggested that as Folau was calling their bluff in being prepared to walk away from rugby union because of his religious beliefs, his Australian bosses should oblige.
‘‘Team harmony is bound to be affected if Folau continues to be treated by those above as a protected species,’’ wrote Growden for ESPN Rugby.
‘‘And if Rugby Australia, who are pushing an inclusive ‘one big happy family’ promotional line, continue to use Folau as a marketing tool, they immediately alienate a sector of its off-field and on-field support base. They also can be branded hypocrites.
‘‘Similarly, one can only ponder whether Rugby Australia would allow a player to get away with making inflammatory racist comments because of freedom of speech or fervent personal or traditional beliefs. Not for one second.
‘‘So, is it worth Rugby Australia continuing to pay Folau the enormous bucks, at a time when it has announced a A$3.8 million (NZ$4 million) loss and with the threat of losing major sponsors due to his divisive comments?
‘‘No way in the world. If he continues carrying on that he can make more money overseas, then Rugby Australia should let him go and he can become someone else’s problem.’’
Growden described Rugby Australia as being ‘‘weak-kneed’’ for failing to sanction the player and urged them to ‘‘stand up to Folau’’.
‘‘They haven’t, and more fool them, especially when they express the limp argument that Folau ‘did not intend to upset people intentionally’.
‘‘Hate to tell you, but Folau has deeply upset people – and his intentions must be questioned by continuing to comment on the issue.
‘‘Rugby Australia has backed down. Folau certainly won’t.’’
Growden suggested Rugby Australia were ‘‘clearly petrified’’ of losing Folau as they get set to enter contract negotiations with him and had given him ‘‘the feather-duster treatment’’.
Growden said that was contrary to the A$20,000 (NZ$21,000) fine handed to Jacques Potgieter in 2015 for anti-gay slurs during a Super Rugby match between the Waratahs and Brumbies.
Growden felt Folau’s form didn’t deserve him being Australia’s highest paid player and he was ‘‘far from being Australia’s most indispensable player’’.
‘‘Give me David Pocock, Michael Hooper, Will Genia, Bernard Foley and Tatafu Polota-Nau – if Wallabies coach Michael Cheika can convince the test hooker to return from the Leicester Tigers to fill a spot that is lacking viable candidates – any day before Folau.
‘‘They invariably make a difference. Folau often doesn’t.’’